Hyper-mobile Miniature Vehicle

Can a vehicle steer by deforming its body?

Using a component made from combining a wheel and three radially arranged legs ( a ‘wheg’), we were challenged to make a hyper-mobile miniature vehicle.

I was inspired by the flexible segmented bodies of insects to attempt a novel steering mechanism that functioned by deforming the vehicle.

A prototype was made for proof of concept.

The final design used two flexible axles and a cord attached at both ends to two turntables, actuated individually with servo motors, to control the deflection of the device.

A large part of the exercise was creating an exploded drawing and bill of materials.